Burnham Tavern, Machias, ca. 1900

Description

The Burnham Tavern in Machias, built in 1770, served as a hospital for men wounded in the first naval battle of the American Revolution.

On June 12, 1775, a group of men from Machias chased and captured a British vessel, the Margaretta that was guarding a merchant vessel delivering goods to Machias but that planned to take lumber back to Boston to be used by the Royal Navy.

The captain of the ship, James Moore, was killed and others were injured.

The illustration, made from a photograph, is from the 1902 book, Life of Jeremiah O'Brien Machias, Maine by Andrew M. Sherman.